Strategic Sub-System Reconfiguration in the Murray-Darling Basin
The Strategic Sub-System Reconfiguration in the Murray-Darling Basin program is an Australian Government initiative under Water for the Future.
Program Objectives
The Strategic Sub-System Reconfiguration in the Murray-Darling Basin program (the program) aims to recover water for the environment, while at the same time improve irrigation network efficiency and support irrigation communities in transitioning to new water sharing arrangements under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
This will be achieved through the decommissioning and rationalisation of inefficient or underutilised shared irrigation delivery infrastructure where this is integrated with water access entitlement purchases.
Available Funding
The Australian Government has allocated $200 million for the program over a four year period from 2013-14 to 2016-17. This will involve up to two funding rounds per year until June 2017 to provide potential applicants regular and ongoing opportunities over this period to submit applications.
Timing
Round 1 of the SSR program has been completed. A review of the program guidelines and application form will now be undertaken as part of the work to prepare arrangements for Round 2.
Round 2 is anticipated to open for applications in the first quarter of the 2013-14 financial year. Potential applicants are advised to carefully consider all program documentation to ensure that eligibility requirements can be met.
Information on future rounds, including the opening and closing date for applications, will be made available on this website.
Who can apply?
Irrigation Infrastructure Operators in partnership with their customers located in Eligible Catchments within the Murray-Darling Basin are eligible to apply. Eligible Catchments are defined as those catchments where surface water still needs to be recovered for the environment to bridge the gap to the sustainable diversion limits in the Basin Plan.
Outcomes of Round One
A number of applications were received by the Department under the expression of interest phase of Round 1 of the SSR program. All applications were assessed against the program guidelines for eligibility and value for money.
The focus of this program is the purchase of water entitlements where this is integrated with the decommissioning or reconfiguration of inefficient or underutilised parts of a shared irrigation delivery network. Applications received under round 1 were assessed against the program guidelines, however none were deemed to represent value for money.
As a result no applications proceeded to the competitive application phase of the process. Applicants have been notified of the outcome of their application.
Further Information
For further information email ssr@environment.gov.au or call 1800 218 478 (toll free).